A DRUNK driver, who smashed a car into a house after downing a litre of vodka, has walked free from court.
Neil Bater had already attacked his new girlfriend, smashed her belongings, taken her car and then threatened to kill his ex-wife and son during a “night of madness” in Sunderland in October.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the 40-year-old appeared to be unconscious after he ploughed into the house in Newcastle Road, Sunderland, and caused a gas leak but, when a worried female security officer, who had been working nearby and was able to smell gas and smoke, tried to pull him out of the car to safety, he started throwing punches at her.
At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Mr Recorder Jonathan Carrol told him: “But for the grace of God, you could have killed somebody, not least of which yourself. Probably the only reason you did not hurt anyone was it was 2.15am.
“You drove straight into the home of a relatiely elderly gentleman, 84-years-old, who was asleep upstairs. You smashed through his garden wall, and smashed into his house.”
The judge sentenced Bater, of Penrith Avenue, Sunderland, to 17 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with supervision, programme requirements and alcohol treatment.
Bater, who has been caught drink-driving twice in the past, was also banned from the roads for three years.
He had admitted aggravated vehicle taking, two common assaults, criminal damage, driving while disqualified, affray, having no insurance and driving with excess alcohol.
The judge said Bater was “probably a decent person” without alcohol, and said help to cure his drink problem would make society safer.
The court heard Bater had been drinking at his girlfriend’s home, who he had been seeing for just nine weeks, when he flew into a rage and took her car, without permission, and drove to his ex-wife’s house.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch said: “He shouted to his son he was going to kill him, and would kill his ex-wife as well.”
Bater then went back to his girlfriend’s house, where he damaged her garage door, pushed her to the floor, hit her across the face, and damaged her phone and computer.
It was when he drove off for a second time that he ploughed into the house.
Bater has been banned by a restraining order from contacting his then girlfriend or his ex-wife and children.
Jamie Adams, defending, said the “night of madness” has been a wake-up call for Bater, who has a good work record. He said: “Alcohol has been an illness with him. It has overtaken him.”
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